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Category Archives: Business

You might be in a dilemma with your choice in decision making. You feel both are very important and inseparable. You are still thinking some way out to continue your association with both. You are happy when you discovered the way forward by the mercy of GOD. Now it’s an easy to arrive at a decision.

Let’s think about a situation when these two entities can’t run together and it’s inevitable now to choose only one. Both are still doing good and the individual is an outperformer in his own capacity though you are not certain about his other vital skills desirable for team success in your organisation. You did all your research and training activities to continue with both together.

The results now are not in your favour as you expected. It’s time now to take a decision and only one can be choosen.

Whom will you go with – the institution or the individual? When both are important, what is your choice? You can choose any without any pressure or bias.

Send me your thoughts in email. If you like to comment in this blog post you are welcome to start a conversation here.

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​It’s not only the skills of a player but the mindset that matters a lot for success.
Indian test cricket captain Virat Kohli proved it again in the fourth test match against the English today.

I could not watch him playing live in this test. I was keenly following the scorecard and commentary on the web. I wrote about sports and sports stars only on very few occasions. It’s usually when linked to leadership and execution skills of a person. The inspiration I had today was good enough to write again.

When we started on Day 4, me and many of my friends felt like this test is heading towards a draw but Virat had a different plan in his mind. None of us ever felt India can manage to lead by a big margin and put the opposition under pressure when their first innings score was massive. They won the toss and at the drivers seat on first two days of the match to plan it well on their favor.

I am thinking about the mindset of the two captains and more about the English skipper. Had he ever felt more secure after putting four hundred runs on board and thought like it’s good enough to prevent a loss? While preventing a loss was his game plan, our skipper was busy planning how to win even when it means to drag it till the end of the match on day 5.

Earlier he said I don’t play match by match but session by session. He proved himself correct one more time again today. What a splendid performance! The English captain too admitted the fact in our last encounter. He said the only difference and decisive factor for the match results was Virat’s batting.

This positive spirit of ‘never lose hope and maintain the right attitude’ that he instilled in all the team members paid him good dividends at the end of each match. It helped the team always keep high on morale.

Success can’t be far away when attitude of a player is “play to win”. He proved all his critiques wrong through his master class and sheer performance. While many are of an opinion he is too young and rough on the field to led a team because of his attitude I feel otherwise.

He is young at heart but tough at making the right decision at the right time like an well experienced adult.
Test match unlike shorter form of the game tests more the resilience of the players and their fighting spirit. This could be the reason why many sports enthusiasts feel this is the real cricket that tests your mind, fitness, skills and toughness.

The test cricket was considered to be a very boring game of cricket during my school days but not so anymore. It is now part of management lessons at universities.

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Recently I got to know about the acquisition of Yahoo by Verizon at a meagre price that was never expected. The news went viral on social media too. Then I had a burning desire to write more on my understanding on this topic. You may treat this as a business blog, a social blog or a combination from the best of both world.

Any business decision has two sides – people and profit. This profit is again to grow business further in the interest of people and organisation. Direct benefit goes to people as we get more number of employments with growth in business scaling well across the geography.

The decision of a merger and acquisition is not so simple. It directly affects all the stakeholders and shareholders in the business. Earlier I had witnessed the acquisition of Covansys by CSC about eight years back when I was a part of it. I couldn’t accept the fact well that time. Hardly have I had any business sense in that period but just left with my emotional state of mind. It’s always a feel good factor when our company acquires another but not the vice versa. Many questions come to mind like “Am I not doing good?” Have I failed to add more value to my company?

Every business owner wants to see the growth of people and business in parallel. A decision may come either when it’s not profitable enough to run as usual or still when we find much better hands to handle it even though making profit.

Sometimes, it’s sensed like the current profit may not be sustainable for a longer period with present state of all the resources. Any such decision may also come when there are other business plans in mind needing huge investment bit lacking investors.
Profit or loss factor is largely dependent on the market trend which is again controlled by people as per their purchasing power and how they view your product. They look out for more advantages (like durability, better/prompt & cheaper service) than your competitors.

Let’s now come to the social side of business. How do you see your company and colleagues? You may think of it as a workplace where you are supposed to perform your routine jobs and make money as salary periodically. Your colleagues could be like strangers but companions either for a short term or a longer period as per your tenure.

We remember few and we forget many with time. This is because these few people left a deep impression on us unlike the rest. This is again much dependent on our emotional quotient that decides whom to remember or forget.

Have you ever thought of your company as your home and all companions as your family members? If you think so you can do a lot of good to your company and people. The simple reason being nobody causes harm to her/his own home and family members. In this case you can’t leave your home under normal circumstances but a separation is still possible when a decision is made at a larger interest of people and the organisation. This decision could come from either side for a good reason.

I used to write for social and environmental causes. For the first time i am writing something different that includes thought on business as i understand it’s for people and powered by people. That news of acquisition kept me vigilant for some time like a watchman and directed me to look at the current market trend. I asked myself can I do an analysis further. I felt like do i have the business sense to dig deeper?

Many in my friend circle feel it’s a great loss for Yahoo and they don’t see it as a winning strategy when we compare with previous offers. It made me think about time value of money. So, what went really wrong? Was there some major flaws in strategic business decision making?

I think we should not blame yahoo for their decision in the year 1998. Information technology industry was not growing at the current rate those days. It was not easy to do well valuation of a company like google that time. Business risk taking with a startup might have been turned down by analysts that time.

What about the decision in the year 2002 and again in 2008? The news says realising the mistake… but how much they really did?

Few of my learning from this topic i wish to share as quotations goes as follows:

“Never underestimate someone small when you are big.”

“Don’t wait to stop and start again when you are completely exhausted but pause yourself in between for refreshments.”

“Opportunity might be there knocking your door but you may never come to know about it if you fail to sense it just before arrival.”

“Time value of money is more important than money itself.”

“Don’t loose your good time at present waiting for your bad time to leave you. Stay blissful always!”

“Evaluate yourself and your business better periodically like how do you see it grow in coming years and then you do an analysis about your competitors.”

“Vision, strategy and action should go together.”

I will update more thoughts here as i develop. I am still thinking to develop better business sense to write more. Do share with me your valuable insights as sharing is caring!

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What a speech by our prime minister addressing the joint session of US congress. It has all the ingredients to make a great speech and connect people together while representing your nation outside.

Simply magnetic!

This is not for the first time I listened him speaking but every time you listen you will discover uniqueness in his thoughts and approach.

Repeated standing ovations by all the audience worth watching and good enough to fall in love with him.

Let me reproduce here the text version of the original speech if you have missed watching him live or would like to revisit his speech again.

Here it goes as follows…
Happy reading!

”
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Vice President,
Distinguished Members of the US Congress
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am deeply honoured by the invitation to address this Joint Meeting of the U.S. Congress.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker for opening the doors of this magnificent Capitol.
This temple of democracy has encouraged and empowered other democracies the world over.
It manifests the spirit of this great nation, which in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
In granting me this opportunity, you have honoured the world’s largest democracy and its 1.25 billion people.
As a representative of world’s largest democracy, it is indeed a privilege to speak to the leaders of its oldest.
Mr. Speaker,
Two days ago, I began my visit by going to the Arlington National Cemetery-the final resting place of many brave soldiers of this great land.
I honoured their courage and sacrifice for the ideals of freedom and democracy.
It was also the seventy-second Anniversary of the D-Day.
On that day, thousands from this great country fought on the remote shores of a land that they did not know to protect the torch of liberty.
They sacrificed their lives so that the world lives in freedom.
I applaud…India applauds, the great sacrifices of the men and women from ‘The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave’ in service of mankind.
India knows what this means because our soldiers too have fallen in distant battlefields for the same ideals.
That is why the threads of freedom and liberty form a strong bond between our two democracies.
Mr. Speaker,
Our nations may have been shaped by differing histories, cultures, and faiths.
Yet,our belief in democracy for our nations and liberty for our countrymen is common.
The idea that all citizens are created equal may be a central pillar of the American constitution.
But, our founding fathers too shared the same belief and sought individual liberty for every citizen of India.
There were many who doubted India when, as a newly independent nation, were posed our faith in democracy.
Indeed, wagers were made on our failure.
But, the people of India did not waver.
Our founders created a modern nation with freedom, democracy, and equality as the essence of its soul.
And, in doing so, they ensured that we continued to celebrate our age old diversity.
Today:
• across its streets and institutions;
• in its villages and cities;
• anchoredin equal respect for all faiths;and
• inthe melodyof hundreds of its languages and dialects.
India lives as one; India grows as one; India celebrates as one.
Mr. Speaker,
Modern India is in its 70th year.
For my government,theConstitution is its real holy book.
And, in that holy book, freedom of faith,speech and franchise, and equality of all citizens, regardless of background, are enshrined as fundamental rights.
800 million of my countrymen may exercise the freedom of franchise once every five years.
But, all the 1.25 billion of our citizens have freedom from fear, which they exercise every moment of their lives.
Distinguished Members,
Engagement between our democracies has been visible in the manner in which our thinkers impacted one another, and shaped the course of our societies.
Thoreau’s idea of civil disobedience influenced our political thoughts.
And, similarly the call by the great sage of India Swami Vivekananda to embracehumanity was most famously delivered in Chicago.
Gandhi’s non-violence inspired the heroism of Martin Luther King.
Today, a mere distance of 3 miles separates the Martin Luther King memorial at Tidal Basin from the statue of Gandhi at Massachusetts Avenue.
This proximity of their memorials in Washington mirrors the closeness of ideals and values they believed in.
The genius of Dr. BR Ambedkar was nurtured in the years he spent at the Columbia University a century ago.
The impact of the US constitution on him was reflected in his drafting of the Indian constitution some three decades later.
Our independence was ignited by the same idealism that fuelled your struggle for freedom.
No wonder then that former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee called India and the U.S. ‘natural allies’.
No wonder that the shared ideals and common philosophy of freedom shaped the bedrock of our ties.
No wonder then, that President Obama has called our ties the defining partnership of the 21st century.
Mr. Speaker,
More than fifteen years ago, Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood here and gave a call to step out of the ‘shadow of hesitation’of the past.
The pages of our friendship since then tell a remarkable story.
Today, our relationship has overcome the hesitations of history.
Comfort, candour and convergence define our conversations.
Through the cycle of elections and transitions of Administrations the intensity of our engagements has only grown.
And, in this exciting journey, the US Congress has acted as its compass.
You helped us turn barriers into bridges of partnership.
In the fall of 2008, when the Congress passed the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, it changed the very colours of leaves of our relationship.
We thank you for being there when the partnership needed you the most.
You have also stood by us in times of sorrow.
India will never forget the solidarity shown by the U.S. Congress when terrorists from across our border attacked Mumbai in November of 2008.
And for this, we are grateful.
Mr. Speaker,
I am informed that the working of the U.S. Congress is harmonious.
I am also told that you are well-known for your bipartisanship.
Well, you are not alone.
Time and again, I have also witnessed a similar spirit in the Indian Parliament, especially in our Upper House.
So, as you can see, we have many shared practices.
Mr. Speaker,
As this country knows well, every journey has its pioneers.
Very early on, they shaped a development partnership even when the meeting ground was more limited.
The genius of Norman Borlaug brought the Green Revolution and food security to India.
The excellence of the American Universities nurtured Institutes of Technology and Management in India.
And, I could go on.
Fast forward to today. The embrace of our partnership extends to the entirety of human endeavour-from the depths of the oceans to the vastness of the space.
Our S&T collaboration continues to helps us in cracking the age-old problems in the fields of public health, education, food, and agriculture.
Ties of commerce and investment are flourishing.
We trade more with the U.S. than with any other nation.
And, the flow of goods, services and capital between us generates jobs in both our societies.
As in trade, so in defence.
India exercises with the United States more than we do with any other partner.
Defence purchases have moved from almost zero to ten billion dollars in less than a decade.
Our cooperation also secures our cities and citizens from terrorists, and protects our critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation, as I told President Obama yesterday, is a reality.
Mr. Speaker,
Our people to people links are strong; and there is close cultural connect between our societies.
SIRI tells us that India’s ancient heritage of Yoga has over 30 million practitioners in the U.S..
It is estimated that more Americans bend for yoga than to throw a curve ball.
And, no Mr. Speaker, we have not yet claimed intellectual property right on Yoga.
Connecting our two nations is also a unique and dynamic bridge of three million Indian Americans.
Today, they are among your best CEOs; academics; astronauts; scientists; economists; doctors; even spelling bee champions.
They are your strength. They are also the pride of India. They symbolize the best of both our societies.
Mr. Speaker,
My understanding of your great country began long before I entered public office.
Long before assuming office, I travelled coast to coast, covering 29 States of America.
I realized then that the real strength of the U.S. was in the dreams of its people and the boldness of their ambitions.
Today, Mr. Speaker, a similar spirit animates India.
Our 800 million youth, especially, are particularly impatient.
India is undergoing a profound social and economic change.
A billion of its citizens are already politically empowered.
My dream is to economically empower them through many social and economic transformations.
And, do so by 2022, the seventy-fifth anniversary of India’s independence.
My to-do list is long and ambitious. But you will understand.
It includes:
• A vibrant rural economy with robust farm sector;
• A roof over each head and electricity to all households;
• To skill millions of our youth;
• Build 100 smart cities;
• Have a broad band for a billion, and connect our villages to the digital world;
• And create a twenty-first century rail, road and port infrastructure.
These are not just aspirations; they are goals to be reached in a finite time-frame.
And, to be achieved with alight carbon foot print, with greater emphasis on renewables.
Mr. Speaker,
In every sector of India’s forward march, I see the U.S. as an indispensable partner.
Many of you also believe that a stronger and prosperous India is in America’s strategic interest.
Let us work together to convert shared ideals into practical cooperation.
There can be no doubt that in advancing this relationship, both nations stand to gain in great measure.
As the US businesses search for new areas of economic growth, markets for their goods, a pool of skilled resources, and global locations to produce and manufacture, India could be their ideal partner.
India’s strong economy, and growth rate of 7.6% per annum,is creating new opportunities for our mutual prosperity.
Transformative American technologies in India and growing investment by Indian companies in the United States both have a positive impact on the lives of our citizens.
Today, for their global research and development centres, India is the destination of choice for the U.S. companies.
Looking eastward from India, across the Pacific, the innovation strength of our two countries comes together in California.
Here, the innovative genius of America and India’s intellectual creativity are working to shape new industries of the future.
Mr. Speaker,
The 21st century has brought with it great opportunities.
But, it also comes with its own set of challenges.
Inter-dependence is increasing.
But, while some parts of the world are islands of growing economic prosperity; other are mired in conflicts.
In Asia, the absence of an agreed security architecture creates uncertainty.
Threats of terror are expanding, and new challenges are emerging in cyber and outer-space.
And, global institutions conceived in 20th century, seem unable to cope with new challenges or take on new responsibilities.
In this world full of multiple transitions and economic opportunities; growing uncertainties and political complexities; existing threats and new challenges; our engagement can make a difference by promoting:
• Cooperation not dominance;
• Connectivity not isolation;
• Respect for Global Commons;
• inclusive not exclusive mechanisms; and above all
• adherence to international rules and norms.
India is already assuming her responsibilities in securing the Indian Ocean region.
A strong India-U.S. partnership can anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa and from Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
It can also help ensure security of the sea lanes of commerce and freedom of navigation on seas.
But, the effectiveness of our cooperation would increase if international institutions framed with the mindset of the 20th century were to reflect the realities of today.
President Obama and I have agreed that India as a permanent member of the U.N Security Council,has to be an intrinsic part of this century’s new reality.
Mr. Speaker,
Before arriving in Washington D.C., I had visited Herat in Western Afghanistan to inaugurate Afghan-India Friendship Dam, a 42 MW hydro-electric project built with Indian assistance.
I was also there on the Christmas day last year to dedicate to that proud nation its Parliament, a testimony to our democratic ties.
Afghans naturally recognize that the sacrifices of American have helped create a better life.
But, your contribution in keeping the region safe and secure is deeply appreciated even beyond.
India too has made an enormous contribution and sacrifices to support our friendship with Afghan people.
A commitment to rebuild a peaceful,and stable and prosperous Afghanistan our shared objective.
Yet, Distinguished Members,not just in Afghanistan, but elsewhere in South Asia, and globally, terrorism remains the biggest threat.
In the territory stretching from West of India’s border to Africa, it may go by different names, from Laskhar-e-Taiba, to Taliban to ISIS.
But,it’s philosophy is common: of hate, murder and violence.
Although it’s shadow is spreading across the world, it is incubated in India’s neighbourhood.
I commend the members of the U.S. Congress for sending a clear message to those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains.
Refusing to reward them is the first step towards holding them accountable for their actions.
The fight against terrorism has to be fought at many levels.
And, the traditional tools of military, intelligence or diplomacy alone would not be able to win this fight.
Mr. Speaker,
We have both lost civilians and soldiers in combating it.
The need of the hour is for us to deepen our security cooperation.
And, base it on a policy:
• that isolates those who harbour, support and sponsor terrorists;
• that does not distinguish between “good” and “bad” terrorists; and
• that delinks religion from terrorism.
Also, for us to succeed, those who believe in humanity must come together to fight for it as one, and speak against this menace in one voice.
Terrorism must be delegitimized.
Mr. Speaker,
The benefits of our partnership extend not just to the nations and regions that need it most.
On our own, and by combining our capacities,we are also responding to other global challenges including when disaster strikes and where humanitarian relief is needed.
Far from our shores, we evacuated thousands from Yemen, Indians, Americans and others.
Nearer home, we were the first responders during Nepal’s earthquake, in the Maldives water crisis and most recently during landslide in Sri Lanka.
We are also one of the largest contributors of troops to UN Peace Keeping Operations.
Often,India and the U.S. have combined their strengths in science, technology and innovation to help fight hunger, poverty, diseases and illiteracy in different parts of the world.
The success of our partnership is also opening up new opportunities for learning, security and development from Asia to Africa.
And, the protection of environment and caring for the planet is central to our shared vision of a just world.
For us in India, to live in harmony with mother earth is part of our ancient belief.
And, to take from nature only what is most essential is part of our civilizational ethos.
Our partnership, therefore, aims to balance responsibilities with capabilities.
And, it also focuses on new ways to increase the availability and use of renewable energy.
A strong U.S. support for our initiative to form an International Solar Alliance is one such effort.
We are working together not just for a better future for ourselves, but for the whole world.
This has also been the goal of our efforts in G-20, East Asia Summit and Climate Change summits.
Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Members
As we deepen our partnership, there would be times when we would have differing perspectives.
But, since our interests and concerns converge, the autonomy in decision making and diversity in our perspectives can only add value to our partnership.
So, as we embark on a new journey, and seek new goals, let us focus not just on matters routine but transformational ideas.
Ideas which can focus:
• Not just on creating wealth but also creating value for our societies;
• Not just on immediate gains but also long term benefits;
• Not just on sharing best practices but also shaping partnerships; and
• Not just on building a bright future for our peoples, but in being a bridge to a more united, humane and prosperous world.
And,important for the success of this journey would be a need to view it with new eyes and new sensitivities.
When we do this, we will realise the full promise of this extraordinary relationship.
Mr. Speaker,
My final thoughts and words would reiterate that our relationship is primed for a momentous future.
The constraints of the past are behind us and foundations of the future are firmly in place.
In the lines of Walt Whitman,
“The Orchestra have sufficiently tuned their instruments, the baton has given the signal.”
And to that, if I might add, there is a new symphony in play.
Thank you Mr. Speaker and Distinguished members for this honour.
Thank you very much.
“